Compact cabinet litter hideaway and pet house by Modernist Cat.

This serves as a cat console, cat scratcher and console table by Modernist Cat.

Dog daybed by La Lune

Carolyn Pinkerton of Milwaukee has her French bulldog named Yoda blessed by Father Mike Hammer of the combined parish of Three Holy Women and St. Rita. Hammer gave a group blessing as well as individual blessings to dogs and their owners.

When interior designer Michael John Weber meets with a client about a redecorating project, if the subject of pets doesn't come up he'll bring it up.

Weber, who has a Labrador retriever at home, knows how four-legged family members can end up determining everything from the style of sofa to the fabric used.

"I always ask," said Weber, who works at Collaborative Design in Waukesha. He needs to know if pets are allowed on the furniture. For instance, if the cat sits on the sofa to look out the window, the homeowner will want a sofa with attached cushions that don't move. If the dog spends time in the chair, then the client might want to consider covering sofas and chairs in durable leather or an indoor/outdoor fabric such as Sunbrella, a onetime outdoor material now available for interiors. Either covering can be easily cleaned of pet hair and each holds up to pet use.

Weber's question makes sense based on numbers alone. The American Humane Association estimates that 37% to 46% of households have a dog and 30% to 39% of households have at least one cat. That's one big fur ball waiting to happen.

Here are more tips, ideas and products designed to make a home shared with dogs and cats comfortable and stylish for humans and their furry friends.

"I think that decorating and designing your home with your pets in mind is a fairly new and quickly growing trend," said Crystal Gregory, whose shop Modernist Cat was born of creativity and necessity.

Gregory and her husband share a 950-square-foot ranch house in Seattle with two Canadian hairless cats and two Italian greyhounds. "There was absolutely nowhere to hide our cat's litter box. I couldn't find anything out there to blend with our collection of mid-century modern pieces and knew that I had to come up with a solution, so I did."

She designed mid-century modern pieces to hide the litter box or provide den-like shelter. They're sold at her Modernist Cat Etsy site. A custom-made cat scratch pad costs $399. A mid-century modern feeder starts at $59. A litter box that can serve as furniture costs $429.

Pets have been in our homes for ages, but the trend toward decorating with them in mind might be traced to one thing — convenience. "I'd say that Internet access has made for a more design conscious public by enabling people to look up a tremendous variety of decorating tips and ideas conveniently from home," she said in an email.

Adding pet lines

Mario Costantini, owner of Riverwest-based La Lune Collection of high-end rustic furniture, was inspired to make a bed for dogs after a talk with the late George Dalton, for whom the main building of the Wisconsin Humane Society was named.

"I thought if I was a dog, that would be the kind of bed I would like to sleep in, one made out of sticks," he said.

Costantini and his wife, Cathy, have three dogs and one cat at home (and often at the factory). Around the same time as his discussion with Dalton, Costantini heard a report that Americans spend upward of $50 billion on their pets. And he figured "maybe we could do some dog beds."

The company manufactures eco-friendly furniture, which comes in willow, poplar, birch and oak and is designed to look simultaneously rustic and luxurious, and does the same for dog beds, which can come in canopy, four-poster and bunkbed styles that start at $700.

The furniture is available online at lalunecollection.com or by going to the factory, 930 E. Burleigh St.

The American Pet Products Association estimates we'll spend more than $55 billion on pets this year, a portion of it on dog beds and blankets made of Crypton Super Fabric. The synthetic fabric, resistant to stains, bacteria and smells, was invented in 1993 for people with incontinence. Eight years ago, the Michigan company repurposed the technology for use in dog beds, throws and furniture for people who own pets.

William Wegman, who famously photographed Weimaraner dogs, designed a line of products for Crypton. Wegman's styles look like suede or twill and carry names such as Polka Dog or Material Dog.

Pick fabric carefully

If your budget and your time are tight, it makes sense to consider pets when adding new furniture or renovating a room, Harrison Forbes, a dog trainer and animal behaviorist, said in an email.

"In terms of fabric, pet owners should be realistic about what fabrics they have in their home," Forbes wrote. "For example, I like a very soft plush fabric on couches and chairs, however, because I have a tall three-coated Beauceron that sheds, plush fabrics are not practical.

"You don't want to have to vacuum and clean the furniture every time your dog brushes up against the fabric. Similarly, hardwood and tile flooring is much easier to maintain than carpeting; inexpensive area rugs are a go-to of mine since they can easily be replaced after regular wear and tear and track-in paw prints from pets."

Also, be aware of the size of your pet and the size of the pet's tail when considering breakables on a coffee table or other low-lying furniture, Forbes noted.

Other ideas include using a washable satin paint color on walls. A white wall will turn gray when dogs brush up against it with their fur.

Repurpose an old night stand to serve as a bed for a small pet. If a kitchen project includes custom cabinetry, consider pull-out drawers to hold food and water bowls or a special cupboard for pet foods.

Forbes recommends keeping in mind where pets will spend the majority of their time along with their favorite places, where they sleep and where they eat.

"Place furniture in a way that allows them easy access to their favorite spaces and will also make those spaces easy to get to so you can clean them more easily," he wrote. "If your pet loves to be near you during cooking or TV time, place their bed where he can see you and relax. It is important that they feel close to you but also are not tempted to lay on the chair or couch so you can maintain your furniture at the same time."

About Kathy Flanigan

Tap Milwaukee reporter Kathy Flanigan covers entertainment news, events and our beer culture. She is the author of Weekend Guide, a newsletter with best bets for weekend activities.